Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the 18th Asean-India Summit on Thursday virtually via video conferencing.  Modi, speaking at the occasion, stated that the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic faced several challenges for member nations.

“This challenging time was also a test of India-Asean friendship. Our mutual cooperation in Covid era will keep strengthening our relations in future and form base for goodwill between our people.”

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Modi stated that India and Asean have had relations for thousands of years, as reflected in history.

“Our shared values, traditions, languages, texts, architecture, culture and food are the glimpses of these relations,” the Prime Minister further said, adding that Asean’s unity and centrality has always been a top concern for India for the same reason.

According to an official statement, the Asean-India Summit is being attended by the heads of the state/government of the Asean countries. 

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“The 18th Asean -India Summit will review the status of Asean-India Strategic Partnership and take stock of progress made in key areas including Covid-19 and Health, Trade & Commerce, Connectivity, and Education and Culture. Important regional and international developments including post pandemic economic recovery will also be discussed,” the statement added.

The summit takes place once a year and allows India and Asean to engage at the highest level. 

The relationship between India and ASEAN has improved in recent years, with a commitment to building cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, as well as security and defence. 

The East Asia Summit is the premier forum for dealing with security and defence problems in the Asia-Pacific region. It has played a crucial role in East Asia’s strategic, geopolitical, and economic evolution since its inception in 2005. 

Apart from ASEAN members, India, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Russia are all a part of the East Asia Summit.